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A chiropractor friend of mine told me that it does not take muscle mass into account. And that it doesn’t distinguish between lean body mass and fat mass. And some people, such as heavily muscled athletes, may have a high BMI even though they don’t have a high percentage of body fat. And that in some older people it may appear normal even though muscle has been lost with aging. I suppose it’s a good screening tool and I do use it to help keep me in check. I’m not a heavily muslced athlete either. Before I started my nutritional cleansing (and released 2 dress sizes in 1 1/2 months...7 lbs, 8 1/2 inches in the first 9 days!), my BMI was in the 30’s which was considered obese. For the last 5 yrs, it’s been a 22.

BMI is really inaccurate. Look at a professional athlete with lots of muscle mass and very little fat. Their BMI will we through the roof and would show them to be morbidly obese which is simply not the case.

Unfortunately that whole concept of BMI is based on old, outdated standards that do not take into account some of us are carrying around some extra weight around the midsection. I’m on the borderline - 24.2, which is okay, but I have a gut. I looked up my IBW (Ideal Body Weight), which means I need to lose about 12 pounds. I’m down with that, but it’s going to be difficult with my freezer filled with burgers from Omaha Steaks!

Thanks ladies for your input. I’m a shortie and go by a chart that determines weight by the size of your frame. There’s a leeway of 11 pounds between small, medium, and large frame. But my Dr. goes by the BMI chart. I say as long as I am eating right most of the time, exercise, and my clothes aren’t tight I’m good.